Climate change effects barley production, global beer supply

Xie told Xinhua that the research tried to fill in the blank of climate change studies on "high value-added agricultural products", as previous research mostly focused on the impact on food crops. Add Climate Change as an interest to stay up to date on the latest Climate Change news, video, and analysis from ABC News.

In more optimistic scenarios, where emissions are brought under control and warming is kept at a manageable level (what climate scientists refer to as RCP2.6), droughts and heatwaves might occur together in about 4% of the years.

"We came up with the term 'luxury essentials, ' " Guan said. This cereal is an essential ingredient in beer.

Hoisting their mugs, the team set a plan in motion.

Reuters reported that many companies realise the risks of climate change on barley, 17 percent of which is used to make beer. A global average 100% increase in price between now and 2099 is the worst-case scenario, while a 15% increase in price is the best case.

The result, Guan said, was that "the majority of countries will have a decline in barley". For example, it stands at 83% in Brazil and 9% in Australia.

Beer production could plummet thanks to global warming. And that is bad for making beer.

A pint could double in price in the United Kingdom as a result of "severe weather events" that could result in a shortage of barley used to brew beer.

The research showed that beer consumption worldwide could diminish by 16 percent during the most severe weather conditions; prices would double on average. In Ireland, where beer is now quite plentiful, prices could surge by 200% or more. "So for instance, I've seen numbers like a 7% reduction in corn, 6% reduction in wheat", she said. "So you do see it being a small part of diets around the world".

She says Budweiser's crop science lab in Colorado is working on new barley strains dubbed Voyager, Merit 57, and Growler.

Whole grains in general are a "sustainable food choice", Sluyter said. Then there's the possibility that barley farmers might find ways to adapt.

Only 17 per cent of the globe's barley is actually used in brewing; most is harvested as feed for livestock. For example, prices of beer can jump by a enormous 193% in Ireland in the times to come. "This is a paper born of love and fear", he said. A good caution, since that might well be the policy solution favored by beer drinkers faced with a possible shortage 80 years in the future.

Citing prohibition in the United States and the subsequent emergence of the illegal liquor trade, Prof Guan also warned that the shortage could lead to similar disorder.

It's in our hands what future we want to see.

"People should learn from the past".

TL;DR - If you want cheap and plentiful beer, quit fucking up the planet.